Alaska
Fee-For-Service Medicaid Coverage of Screening
Not Covered
Highlighted Disparity
Indigenous Peoples in Alaska are most likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer.
Lung Cancer Rates
New Cases:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 54 and not significantly different than the national rate of 58.
- Alaska ranks 17th among all states, placing it in the average tier.
- Over the last five years, the rate of new cases did not change significantly.
5-Year Survival Rate:
- The percent of people alive five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer (the survival rate) in Alaska is 22%, which is not significantly different than the national rate of 25%.
- It ranks 38th among the 46 states with survival data, placing it in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the survival rate in Alaska did not change significantly.
Early Diagnosis:
- 23% of cases are caught at an early stage, which is significantly lower than the national rate of 26%.
- It ranks 46th among the 49 states with data on diagnosis at an early stage, placing it in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the early diagnosis rate in Alaska improved by 50%.
Lung Cancer Treatment
Surgical Treatment:
- Alaska ranked 39th (out of the 49 states with available data) with 17% of cases undergoing surgery as part of the first course of treatment.
- This is significantly lower than the national rate of 21% and puts Alaska in the below average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases undergoing surgery in Alaska did not change significantly.
Lack of Treatment:
- Alaska ranked 18th (out of the 49 states with available data) with 19% of cases not receiving any treatment.
- This is not significantly different than the national rate of 21% and puts Alaska in the above average tier.
- Over the last five years, the percent of cases receiving no treatment in Alaska improved by 33%.
Screening
Screening for High Risk:
- In Alaska, 6% of those at high risk were screened, which was not significantly different than the national rate of 6%.
- It ranks 31st among all states, placing it in the average tier.
- Screening rates may be higher in states with large, regional managed care providers that did not share screening data.
Medicaid Coverage:
- Alaska was one of the 3 states whose Medicaid fee-for-service programs did not cover lung cancer screening as of July 2022.
Prevention
Tobacco Use:
- The smoking rate in Alaska is 18% and not significantly different than the national rate of 14%.
- It ranks 38th among all states, placing it in the below average tier.
Radon:
- In Alaska, 17% of radon tests results were at or above the action level recommended by EPA.
- It ranks 18th among all states, placing it in the above average tier.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities
Black Americans:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 51 per 100,000 population among Black Americans in Alaska, not significantly different than the rate of 59 among Black Americans nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 50 among whites in Alaska.
- Survival rates by race and ethnicity are not available for Alaska at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Black Americans is 22%, 12% lower than among white Americans.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Black Americans in Alaska due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Latino Americans:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 38 per 100,000 population among Latinos in Alaska, not significantly different than the rate of 29 among Latinos nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 50 among whites in Alaska.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Latino Americans at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Latino Americans is 19%, 25% lower than among white Americans.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Latino Americans in Alaska due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 38 per 100,000 population among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Alaska, not significantly different than the rate of 34 among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 50 among whites in Alaska.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders is 23% and not significantly different than among white Americans.
- Other lung cancer rates are not available for Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders in Alaska due to too few cases over the time period to allow for accurate analysis.
Indigenous Peoples:
- The rate of new lung cancer cases is 87 per 100,000 population among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Alaska, significantly higher than the rate of 41 among Indigenous Peoples nationally, and significantly higher than the rate of 50 among whites in Alaska.
- State-level survival rates are not available for Indigenous Peoples at this time. Nationally, the five-year survival rate among Indigenous Peoples is 19% and not significantly different than among white Americans. 21% of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) in Alaska, not significantly different than the rate of 23% among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 24% among whites in Alaska.
- 12% of Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) with lung cancer in Alaska underwent surgery, significantly lower than the rate of 17% among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) nationally, and significantly lower than the rate of 19% among whites in Alaska.
- 16% of Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) with lung cancer in Alaska did not receive any treatment, significantly lower than the rate of 22% among Indigenous Peoples (American Indians/Alaska Natives) nationally, and not significantly different than the rate of 20% among whites in Alaska.
Summary
The early diagnosis rate in Alaska falls into the below average tier. The state still has a lot of work to do to make sure that more of those at high risk for lung cancer are screened.
The Lung Association encourages all states to cover lung cancer screening based on the latest guidelines across all fee-for-service and managed care plans without any financial or administrative barriers in their Medicaid programs.
Alaska falls into the above average tier for percent of patients receiving no treatment. Some patients do refuse treatment, but issues such as fatalism and stigma can prevent eligible patients from accessing treatment that may save or extend their lives. All patients should work with their doctors to establish a treatment plan and goals.